09 January 2009

W.Vians Gave More to Anti-Prop 8 Forces in Calif.

"Supporters of the ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California have filed a lawsuit seeking to block their campaign finance records from public view," The Associated Press reports.

But the campaign finance filings remain public and online for now. They show just a handful of West Virginia contributors to groups for or against the measure -- but those Mountain State residents gave $850 to anti-Prop 8 forces and just $100 to those behind it.

The sole donor to the two largest pro groups is listed as an Eastern Panhandle school teacher. Those who contibuted to anti- groups include lawyers and retirees.

The two largest pro-prop groups appear to have raised around $28.4 million, while the two biggest anti- groups amassed nearly $36 million (there are a number of additional groups listed).

The lawsuit alleges public access to the reports has "led to the harassment of donors," AP reports, and "cites a series of incidents in which those who gave money to support Proposition 8 received threatening phone calls, e-mails and postcards."

It was filed by the two largest pro- groups: Protect Marriage.com , and the National Organization for Marriage California. Their lawyer, James Bopp Jr., has also represented West Virginians for Life in their pending (and thus far largely successful) legal challenge of the state's latest stab at requiring disclosure of electioneering communications.

The West Virginia lawsuit seeks to allow those behind independent, election-time political ads from having to identify their donors and spending. The California case "asks the court to relieve the two groups and 'all similarly situated persons' from having to meet the state's campaign disclosure requirements," AP reports. "That would include having to file a final report on Proposition 8 contributions at the end of January, as well as reports for any future campaigns the groups undertake."

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